When Wednesday Seems So Far From Sunday ~ A Prayer For Today

For today, let's bend low, down to the trough to see the newborn king.

For today, let's strain to hear the quiet birth of a newborn King over the noise.

May our expectations of others and our expectations of how the holiday season should look and feel and act be low. 

But may our anticipation of the coming King be lifted high.

And may we continue to lean into the promise of a Savior child born to us. Born as us. Born for us. 

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord" Luke 2:11

When Wednesday Seems So Far From Sunday - Preparing for Thanks

It's the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and many of us are in the middle of preparations -- cooking our favorite dish, tidying up our homes or searching the grocery store for that one ingredient.

As we prepare dishes and homes this Wednesday, let's not forget to prepare our hearts. It's in the  midst of preparations that hearts get forgotten. But hearts need reminders too, reminders to see and give thanks. 

What moments lie before us today and tomorrow that we can be thankful for?

What moments big or small can we pause to notice and pause to give thanks?

For me, it's unhurried mornings and slow breakfasts because there's nowhere we have to be.

It's a thankful jar made by little hands, filled high with slips of paper expressing thanks for all the things little hearts are always thankful for -- family, snow and no school.

It's a table filled with delicious food and tomorrow's leftovers.

There's so much to be thankful for if we take the time to look for it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

When Wednesday Seems So Far From Sunday - Verses To Encourage

There is so much happening in our world to give us reason to fear. Although I know there is no reason to fear, no reason to not have hope, there are days where the undercurrent of fear threatens to overtake me.

This past Sunday, I gathered with a group of women--all whom I absolutely adore--to pray and share verses that give us hope, encouragement and keep us steadfast in the midst of so much turmoil.

I thought I'd share the blessing:

Psalm 118:5 - 8 ~ "In my anguish I cried to the Lord and He answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies."

Jeremiah 33:3 ~ "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Psalm 46: 1 - 3 & 10 ~ "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 10: Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

1 Chronicles 16: 34 ~ "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever!"

Exodus 15:2 ~ " The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him."

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ "For I know the plan I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I hope these verses bring a little Sunday morning calm to any fears you may have.

Because Wednesday Seems So Far From Sunday

It's Wednesday, the middle of the week, a few days removed from last Sunday yet a few more days until next Sunday. 

I love Sundays. I love my church, morning worship, gathering with my people. I love how Sundays steady me and readjust my focus for the week ahead. 

But the week moves on, Sunday becomes the past and I find my my focus shifting. Next thing I know, Sunday seems so far away. 

I desperately need reminders of Sundays on my every day, real life Wednesdays. Reminders that give me perspective and keep me grounded in Sunday morning truths. Reminders that bring peace when decisions need to be made. Reminders that bring me back to the Word when I have strayed from it.

When the world changes around me, I need my solid rock Sunday reminders.

I've created a space here for Sunday reminders. I'll post encouragement, prayers and gentle reminders each Wednesday that will bring us back to our Sunday best.